The Afghanistan Cricket Board's National Selection Committee has unveiled the squad for Afghanistan's historic one-off test match against Sri Lanka, scheduled from February 2-6 at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground. Notably, Rashid Khan's absence due to ongoing recovery opens the door for leg-spinning all-rounder Qais Ahmad, while Noor Ali Zadran earns a spot based on recent stellar domestic performances.

Excitingly, debutants Naveed Zadran, a right-arm quick, and Mohammad Ishaq, a promising wicket-keeper batter, join the Senior Test Team after impressive outings in domestic competitions and the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional List A Tournament.

Mirwais Ashraf, ACB Chairman, expresses enthusiasm about this significant test match against Sri Lanka, emphasizing Afghanistan's commitment to bolstering both white-ball and red-ball cricket.

Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the newly appointed interim Chief Selector, highlights the meticulous preparation, including a two-week camp in Nangarhar and a 10-day conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi, leading to the selection of a squad featuring fresh talents.

The squad includes Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), and others, aiming to make their mark in Afghanistan's 8th overall test match and first against Sri Lanka.